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Which Maldives island is right for you?

Sea plane flying above Maldives islands, Raa atol.Photo: Getty Images

Vanessa Pinniger

Published: March 4, 2019 - 6:43 PM

Consistently ranked among the world’s best islands by Travel and Leisure magazine, the Maldives is a group of 1190 islands spread across 26 atolls off the south western tip of India renowned for white-sand beaches and warm, sparkling waters. Idyllic resorts jut out over crystal clear lagoons, providing continuous drool-worthy feeds on social media and frequent celebrity sightings (Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Falchuk recently honeymooned here).

But with so many resorts, islands and atolls, the question is which one to choose?

Among its offerings, including a private island and 11-cabin catamaran, the Four Seasons has resorts on two different islands on two different atolls and offers a two-island package for those wanting to experience a double whammy of paradise. Here’s how they compare.

A boardwalk leads out over the water to the villas at Kuda Huraa.

Pick your paradise

Four Seasons Kuda Huraa has the charm of a typical Maldivian village, with its collection of thatched-roofed beach bungalows and newly-renovated, over-water villas (think luxury tropical summer camp). Each villa comes with its own private infinity-edged pool, accessed directly through sliding glass doors off the bedroom, and a ladder straight into the crystal-clear lagoon below. There are four restaurants and two bars; The Island Spa; and endless activities, including surf lessons, X-Jetblades, sunset fishing and Indian cooking classes.

The Trans Maldivian Airways flight offers a birds-eye view of the many islands.

Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru is located on the Baa Atoll, a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, and the moment you step off the floatplane there is a feeling of magic about the place. Home to an extensive Spa and Ayurvedic Retreat set among 18 hectares of jungle, the feel here is more tropical wellness retreat. Four restaurants all serve ayurvedic and dosha-specific options. All-inclusive Ayurvedic immersion programs, including Panchakarma the ancient cleansing process, are available. There is even an ayurvedic doctor available for complimentary consultations.

There is a lovely laid back feel, with guests pedaling by on complimentary bicycles monogrammed with their initials. Many return year after year, some for extended stays. You can see why. Here, and at Kuda Huraa, you feel like family.

Of course, if it’s family you want to escape, at the nearby Four Seasons private island you can have paradise all to yourself. But that’s a whole other island.

From the plane, over-water villas can be seen fanning out into the sea below.

Arrival: By sea or by air

You arrive at Kuda Huraa via speed boat from the airport at Malé on the North Malé Atoll (all international flights to the Maldives fly in here). The boats pull right up to the airport terminal, waiting to whisk you on the 25-minute ride to the neighbouring island in the same atoll. Very James Bond.

Equally swish, is the arrival by float plane at Landaa Giraavaru on the Baa Atoll. TransMaldivian Airways flies the 35- to 40-minute route from Malé and also the 30-minute flight between Kuda Huraa and Landaa Giraavaru. (You can also sail between the two islands on the Four Seasons Explorer yacht).

Marine life: Turtles vs mantas

Full-time scientists at both resorts are doing amazing ocean conservation work at the Four Seasons’ interactive Marine Discovery Centres.

At Kuda Huraa the main focus is on turtles. Their HeadStart program is for sea turtle hatchlings and Turtle Rehab helps ready injured turtles for release back into the ocean. Guests get to know the patients and even take part at feeding time.

Chili the turtle gets ready for her close up at the Marine Discovery Centre at Kuda Huraa.

At Landaa Giraavaru, it’s all about the rays. Manta rays gather here in season and there is a large nesting area off the island. The resort boasts a Manta on Call program – you get a call on the ‘manta hot line’ when a manta is spotted so you can join marine biologists snorkelling with the gentle giants.

Both resorts are creating artificial reefs as part of their coral reef propagation programs. The reefs are tagged before being sunk so you can keep track of the progress long after returnig home.

Water sports: Scooter or submarine

Want to swim like a dolphin? You can with the aid of a Seabob on Kuda Huraa. The underwater scooter allows you to easily navigate the water with jet propulsion, making ocean exploring a breeze.

Or fully submerge yourself in a submarine on Landaa. Launched in summer 2018, the resort’s DeepFlight is the only three-person sub in the Maldives.

Yoga: SUP vs Anti-Gravity

The over-water yoga pavilion at Landaa is the perfect spot for morning practice.

Ocean wellness is the theme at Kuda Huraa and mornings start with stand-up paddle board yoga. Practice sun salutations while afloat on gently lapping waves in the blue lagoon, letting the healing nature of the ocean wash over you.

Yoga is the big thing at Landaa. Indian-trained yogis lead classes daily – on the over-water deck, in the salt-water pool or in the jungle. To truly find your path, head to the jungle pavilion for AntiGravity Yoga. Channel your inner acrobat while dangling upside down in a silk hammock suspended from the ceiling. The gravity-defying practice is said to release happy hormones.

Anti-gravity yoga will have you dangling upside down like a bat in the jungle pavilion at Landaa Giraavaru.

Spa: Vitamin sea or Ayurvedic healing

Everything at Kuda Huraa’s Island Spa is ocean inspired. You take a traditional Maldivian dhoni boat across the lagoon to get to the little island where treatments draw on the healing nature of the ocean. The over-water spa pavilions have glass portals in the floor allowing you to view reef life below during treatments. And the all-natural Healing Waters menu draws on ingredients such as sea oxygen, sea salt, wild-harvested seaweed and nutrient-rich sea algae.

The signature Healing Waters massage takes place floating face up on a warm-water filled air mattress as sea breezes waft over you. Pure vitamin sea.

The Spa and Ayurvedic Retreat is at the heart of Landaa. Ten open-air treatment pavilions – including three dedicated specifically to Ayurveda – are nestled in lush tropical gardens in the middle of the island and on stilts over the turquoise lagoon. The ayurvedic abhyanga massage here can only be described as transcendent. Laying on a traditional ayurvedic table made of neem wood in an open-air garden pavilion in the middle of the jungle, two therapists work in tandem to massage you, their four hands working completely simultaneously. You emerge transformed.

If you go

Still can’t decide? The Four Seasons Paradise Twice program offers stays at both Kuda Huraa and Landaa Giraavaru in one trip, with airfare on Trans Maldivian Airways included.

Cathay Pacific flies daily to Hong Kong from YVR with connections on to the Maldives main airport at Malé.